LLS News

[Guest guest]

Dear group, this is part of a newletter sent by LLS with articles from this

month's issue. I'm sure you will find more useful information at their website:

http://www.lls.org/hm_lls

_________________________

" Nearly 800 letters were sent to Congress urging support for a congressional

resolution declaring September 'Blood Cancer Awareness Month;' volunteers placed

opinion pieces in newspapers across the country to raise awareness of the

diseases; and advocates made phone calls and met with their legislators in town

hall meetings asking that they support blood cancer patients living in their

communities. Information on all of the activities available can be found at

www.CallforCures.org.

" With this help from our advocates, and after a strong push on the floor of the

U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Walter (R-NC) and Betsy Markey

(D-CO), the resolution's original sponsors, the resolution has surpassed 100

co-sponsors and now goes before the House Energy and Commerce Committee for

approval before being sent to the House floor. "

____________________

This information is news for every person who has been in a clinical trial, or

will be in the future, covering the fees while in clinical trials. I wish I

could highlight it in red, but that's not possible. Please read it.

Insurers are required to provide coverage for routine patient care costs for

those with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses who are enrolled in a

clinical trial.

" The clinical trials coverage provision goes into effect in 2014 and applies to

private insurance plans and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Clinical trials are a critical part of the process of finding better treatments

for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Trials often provide the best - and some

times last - treatment option for a blood cancer patient. Yet many insurance

companies routinely deny coverage of routine care costs - doctor visits,

in-patient care, diagnostic services - for patients enrolled in a clinical

trial.

" While the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act fixes that problem, 2014

is simply too long to wait for patients battling cancer now. LLS has led the

fight on this issue, pursuing state laws to require this coverage and pushing it

in Congress. Currently, 33 states and the District of Columbia require this

coverage and LLS continues the campaign in other state capitols. "

_______________________________

" The Cures Acceleration Network (CAN) intends to bridge the so-called " Valley of

Death " where promising scientific discoveries languish instead of being

developed into new treatments for patients, which often happen to " orphan "

diseases with small patient populations like blood cancers. The CAN program

seeks to translate these discoveries into beneficial treatments by funding

research grants through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that encourage

private industry and nonprofit partnerships. However, while established, the

program still needs to be funded. LLS is urging Congress to fully fund the

program's $500 million authorization level, and will encourage its advocates to

help forcefully deliver that message. "

_________________________

" This provision no longer allows insurance companies to deny coverage to

patients with a pre-existing condition. This most immediately benefits patients

and survivors of pediatric cancers whose parents switch insurers, but eventually

will benefit all patients with cancer and other chronic illnesses when the

elimination of pre-existing conditions for all patients goes into effect in

2014.

" This coverage practice most often occurs when an employer switches insurance

providers or an employee wishes to change jobs and, therefore, insurance

companies. This can be a source of enormous stress when trying to weigh the

benefits of seeking better employment with the possibility of losing health

benefits, especially for a parent of a pediatric cancer patient. "

__________________

" Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, once a patient incurs

costs in the " doughnut hole " they will receive a $250 rebate from the

government. Beginning in 2011, once a patient reaches the coverage gap, the

costs of their prescription drugs will be reduced by 50 percent. Medicare will

also begin phasing in additional discounts for both brand name and generic

drugs.

" With the rising costs of prescription drugs - and the increasingly frequent use

of expensive oral chemotherapy treatments, such as Gleevec - patients are

reaching this gap in coverage in increasing numbers and the costs can often lead

to financial hardship. "

______________________

FYI,

Lottie Duthu